A. Is there a right to participate in public meetings?

The FOIA “does not grant public participation in governmental meetings, but rather only provides that the public has a right to be informed of the actions of the governmental entity involved.” Ark. Op. Att’y Gen. (June 2, 1969). See also Ark. Op. Att’y Gen. No. 93-052. However, other statutes may confer a right of participation. For example, the county quorum court and other county boards required to hold open meetings must “adopt rules for conducting the meeting which afford citizens a reasonable opportunity to participate prior to the final decision.” Ark. Code Ann. § 14-14-109(b). See Ark. Op. Att’y Gen. Nos. 2000-106, 99-248, 95-230, 93-299, 93-052. If participation is not allowed when a statute so requires, action taken at the meeting may be subject to invalidation. Ark. Op. Att’y Gen. No. 2000-106.